How to Become a Successful Pinterest Manager in 2025

For years, Pinterest seemed like just a place to pin recipes, save cute aesthetics, or plan your dream wedding. But in recent years, it’s become much more than that. The rise of creators, strategists, and marketers building entire businesses around Pinterest has taken many by surprise. 

Pinterest is a powerhouse for driving consistent traffic, leads, and sales. With over 570 million monthly active users globally, it drives more referral traffic than Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, and YouTube combined.

In 2025, businesses are actively seeking skilled professionals to harness its power. This surge in demand makes Pinterest management a rewarding career path. 

In this article, we’ll break down what a Pinterest Manager actually does and more importantly, how you can become one. We’ll walk through the exact steps, skills, and strategies you need to start strong and grow your career in Pinterest management.

What Does a Pinterest Manager Do?

A Pinterest Manager is a marketing professional who helps brands leverage Pinterest’s unique visual search engine to drive traffic, engagement, and sales.

Unlike traditional social media platforms, Pinterest functions more like a discovery tool, where users actively search for ideas, products, and inspiration, making it a powerful platform for businesses.

Key Responsibilities of a Pinterest Manager:

1. Pinterest business account setup

As a Pinterest manager, your first job is to get the client's basics perfect. Start with setting up or optimising Pinterest Business Accounts, claim websites, craft keyword-packed bios, and strategically organising boards. By making an account vital tools like Analytics and sets clients up for long-term visibility will be available at your disposal. 

2. Creating and managing Pinterest strategies

After establishing an account, you have to build focused plans aligned with client goals (brand awareness, traffic, sales). It is essential to conduct deep audience research, plan content themes, integrate seasonal campaigns, and define clear KPIs for better reach. 

3. Pinterest SEO and keyword research

As a manager you'll dig into Pinterest Trends and search data to get an idea on what the target audience is actively hunting for. Then, you strategically weave those high-intent keywords into Pin titles, descriptions, board names, and even image file names/alt text. By using SEO best practices your pins would be indispensable. 

4. Designing optimised Pins and creatives

Pins need to stand out and stop the scroll. Managers often use tools like Canva to create high-converting pin graphics that match the brand’s aesthetic and messaging. Creation of pins that grab attention and communicate value in seconds is what we need. Use compelling text overlays, maintain brand consistency, and choose the perfect Pin type (Standard, Video, Idea) for each goal. 

With PinMaker, you can cut design time in half while improving engagement rates, freeing you up to focus on strategy and client results.

5. Analytics and performance tracking

A successful strategy depends on tracking what’s working. Pinterest Managers monitor metrics, identify trends, and adjust strategies based on performance. Pinterest Analytics is often used to track what actually drives results: impressions, saves, outbound clicks, engagement rates, and audience insights. You interpret this data to refine strategies, prove tangible ROI to clients, and replicate winning tactics. 

Running Pinterest Ads

Some Pinterest Managers offer promoted pin services. Ads on Pinterest work differently from Meta or Google ads, so this requires an additional skill set. Interestingly, promoted pins can seriously accelerate client results.

By working in Pinterest management you will have to set up campaigns, define laser-targeted audiences (keywords, interests, demographics), craft high-converting ad creative, manage budgets, and track critical ad ROI (ROAS, CPC). 

Skills You Need to Become a Pinterest Manager

You don’t need a design degree or years of agency experience to start Pinterest management. But there are a few foundational skills that’ll make your journey smoother:

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• Visual Content Creation & Design: Proficiency in tools like Canva or Adobe Express to create eye-catching, on-brand Pins that adhere to best practices. An eye for aesthetics and composition is preferred.

• Deep Understanding of Pinterest Algorithms & Platform Shifts: Staying ahead of how Pinterest ranks content, new feature rollouts (like Idea Pins updates), and user behavior trends. Platform knowledge is non-negotiable.

• Marketing Strategy & Audience Targeting: Ability to translate business objectives into actionable Pinterest plans. Understanding customer journeys, identifying target audience pain points and interests, and aligning content accordingly.

• SEO & Keyword Optimization Mastery: Yes, Pinterest has its own SEO rules. Learn how keywords work here specifically. Expertise in Pinterest-specific keyword research techniques and on-platform SEO implementation. Knowing how to make content discoverable is fundamental to effective Pinterest management.

• Client Communication & Reporting: Clearly articulating strategies, setting expectations, providing regular updates, and translating analytics data into understandable reports that demonstrate value and guide future actions.

Pinterest Manager vs. Pinterest Virtual Assistant: What's the Difference?

Both terms get tossed around a lot. While there's overlap, there's also a key difference. Pinterest managers are strategy experts who create marketing plans, track results, and grow accounts using data. Pinterest virtual assistants handle the daily work by making pins, posting content, and managing routine tasks. 

To better understand this let us go through detailed comparison of both: 

Step-by-Step: How to Become a Pinterest Manager

Here’s a roadmap you can follow, even if you’re starting from zero.

Step 1 – Learn Pinterest Inside Out (Become the Expert)

• Take Reputable Courses: Invest in specialized training. Look for 2024/2025 updated courses from established providers known for results (research names like Simple Pin Media Collective, Pinning Perfect, or specialists aligned with your target niche).

• Consume Up-to-Date Resources: Regularly read authoritative Pinterest marketing blogs (e.g., Tailwind Blog, Pinterest Business resources, respected agency blogs), follow official Pinterest announcements, and study platform case studies.

• Follow Leaders & Track Trends: Identify and follow successful Pinterest Managers, marketing experts focused on Pinterest, and the Pinterest for Business channels. Use Pinterest Trends religiously to understand search behaviour.

Step 2 – Practice with Your Own Account (Build Your Lab)

• Create a Business Pinterest Account: Treat your own profile as your first client. Apply everything you learn immediately.

• Experiment Relentlessly: Test different Pin designs, content formats (Video Pins, Idea Pins), keyword strategies, pinning frequencies, and board structures. See what drives saves and clicks for your niche.

• Build a Small Portfolio: Document your experiments and results. Even initial successes (e.g., "Increased my own website traffic by X% in 3 months using Pinterest SEO") become compelling proof points. Screenshot analytics and optimised Pins.

Step 3 – Define Your Pinterest Niche and Service Offerings (Carve Your Space)

• Choose Your Niche: Will you serve a specific industry (e.g., food bloggers, eco-friendly brands, wedding planners) or offer general Pinterest management? Specialisation often allows for premium positioning and deeper expertise.

• Define Your Services: What specific solutions will you offer? Common packages include:

1. Full Account Management (Strategy + Execution)
2. Pinterest Audit & Strategy Development
3. Pin Design & Creation
4. Pinterest SEO & Keyword Research
5. Pinterest Ads Management
6. Coaching/Training

• Determine Your Scope: Will you handle everything (design, copy, strategy, posting) or focus on specific elements (e.g., strategy + analytics only, outsourcing design)?

Step 4 – Build Your Website or Portfolio (Your Digital Storefront)

• Showcase Your Expertise: Clearly explain what you do, who you help, and how Pinterest solves their problems. Highlight your unique approach to Pinterest management.

• Detail Your Services: List your packages clearly, outlining what's included and the investment.

• Demonstrate Results: Feature compelling case studies or portfolio examples from your own account practice. Include testimonials (even if initially from peers or beta clients).

• Make Contact Easy: Have a clear contact form or email address.

Step 5 – Start Getting Clients (Put Yourself Out There)

• Proactive Outreach: Identify businesses or bloggers in your niche who have a Pinterest presence but could use help (look for inconsistent pinning, poor visuals, no clear strategy). Craft personalised outreach emails highlighting specific opportunities you see.

• Leverage Freelance Platforms: Create strong profiles on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or niche marketing job boards. Tailor proposals to each job.

• Network: Join relevant Facebook groups, LinkedIn communities, and online forums. Offer value first before pitching.

• Offer Limited Beta Deals (Optional): To build initial case studies and testimonials, offer your services at a significant discount (or even free for 1-2 months) to a select few ideal clients, with the agreement that they provide a testimonial and results data. Be transparent about this being a beta offer.

Step 6 – Brand Yourself as a Pinterest Pro (Become the Go-To Resource)

• Consistent Branding: Ensure your website, social profiles, and communications have a professional, cohesive look and feel.

• Content Marketing: Share your knowledge! Post valuable Pinterest tips, strategy snippets, and platform updates on LinkedIn, Instagram, or even Pinterest itself. Write blog posts addressing common client pain points.

• Showcase Success: Share anonymised case studies and results (with client permission). Social proof is powerful.

• Engage Authentically: Participate in conversations, answer questions in groups, and build genuine relationships.

Tools Every Pinterest Manager Should Know 

Now that you know all the steps to achieve your dream career, it is important to stay one step ahead. A large part of your job would require you to successfully manage different tools, and if you wouldn't know which ones to choose, well then that's a problem.

Don't worry, as we have put together a list of tools that will help you excel in your role.

1. PinMaker (The All-in-One Pinterest Powerhouse): Before we dive into other tools, let's talk about PinMaker – your secret weapon for dominating Pinterest management. This AI-powered platform helps you:
   
   1. Generate high-converting Pin designs in seconds (no design skills needed)
   2. Automatically optimise titles/descriptions with SEO magic
   3. Bulk schedule content to maintain perfect posting consistency
   4. Track performance metrics that actually matter for client ROI
   5. Create branded templates that keep your visuals on point
2. Tailwind: This is the top Pinterest scheduling tool that most professionals swear by. You can batch your pins, get solid analytics on their performance, figure out when your audience is most active, and join Tribes for community sharing. Plus, you can manage multiple accounts without jumping between tabs. If you want to scale up your Pinterest game, this tool is non-negotiable.
3. Canva (Pro Recommended): Your design workhorse for creating pins that actually get clicked. Even if you can't draw a stick figure, you'll look like a pro with their templates and brand kits. The background removal feature alone will save you hours of work, and you can pump out professional graphics fast.
4. Pinterest Analytics: This is where the magic happens - all your performance data lives here. You need to get comfortable reading impressions, saves, clicks, and engagement rates. 
5. Pinterest Trends: Your secret weapon for staying ahead of what people are searching for. Check this weekly to find trending keywords and topics before they blow up. 
6. Project Management Tools: Pick one - Asana, Trello, or ClickUp - and stick with it. You'll thank yourself later when you're juggling multiple clients and deadlines. Content calendars, task lists, and project timelines all become manageable when you have the right system.
7. Graphic Design Tools (Optional but Powerful): Adobe Express or Photoshop take your designs up a notch when Canva isn't enough. They're not required starting out, but as you get more advanced clients, these tools help you create custom graphics that stand out from the template crowd.

How Much Can a Pinterest Manager Make?

Pinterest management offers strong earning potential, with 80% of weekly users discovering new brands on the platform. Your income depends on several key factors: experience level, niche specialisation, service offerings, location, and whether you freelance or work full-time.

Freelance & Contract Rates

Entry Level (0-1 years)

• Hourly: $15-$35/hour
• Monthly retainer: $300-$800 per client

Experienced (1-2+ years)

• Hourly: $40-$75+/hour
• Monthly retainer: $800-$2,000+ per client

Expert Level (Advanced strategy & ads)

• Monthly retainer: $2,000-$5,000+ per client
• Premium rates for specialised niches and comprehensive strategy work

Full-Time Employment

• Pinterest Coordinator - $40,000 - $60,000/year
• Pinterest Manager - $55,000 - $85,000/year
• Senior Manager/Director - $80,000 - $120,000+/year

Growth Outlook

Pinterest management is increasingly in demand as more businesses recognise the platform's marketing potential. While building a strong client base or landing an ideal position takes time, the field offers excellent earning potential with growing market demand.

Freelance vs. In-House: What Type of Work Fits You?

Well, what work fits you is entirely based on individual talent and preference. Let us walk you through the pros and cons of each type, and you can move ahead to make that decision for yourself.

Freelance/Contractor

Pros: You work when you want, charge what you're worth, get to work with different types of businesses, and nobody tells you what to do.

Cons: You have to find your own clients all the time, handle taxes and paperwork yourself, deal with months where money's tight, and forget about health insurance from work.

• This fits you if: You like being in control, don't mind the hustle, and want to make as much money as your skills can get you.

In-House

Pros: Steady paycheck every month, health benefits, you get really good at one brand, work with a team, and someone else handles all the business stuff.

Cons: You can't just take a random Tuesday off, your salary has a ceiling, and you might get bored doing the same thing all the time.

• This fits you if: You want to know exactly how much you'll make each month, like working with the same people every day, and just want to focus on doing great Pinterest work without worrying about finding clients.

How to Keep Growing as a Pinterest Manager 

Pinterest changes fast, and what worked last year might not work today. If you want to stay competitive and keep delivering results for your clients, you can't just set it and forget it. The most successful Pinterest managers are the ones who never stop learning and adapting.

The platform evolves constantly. Consider the following tips if you don't know where to start.

• Prioritise Algorithm & Feature Updates: Pinterest makes frequent changes. Make it a habit to check official Pinterest Business announcements, read trusted industry news sources, and test new features yourself.

• Join Professional Communities: Engage in communities like the Simple Pin Podcast & Community, Tailwind communities, or niche-specific groups. Peer learning and support are invaluable.

• Invest in Ongoing Education: Take advanced courses, attend virtual summits (like Pinterest Presents), or hire a mentor/coach specialising in Pinterest. Never stop learning new strategies.

• Analyse Competitors & Innovate: Regularly review what successful competitors (in your niche and in Pinterest management generally) are doing. Adapt and innovate on their tactics.

• Solicit Feedback & Refine: Ask clients for feedback regularly. Analyse your own results meticulously. Identify what's working exceptionally well and double down; identify weaknesses and seek training or adjust your approach.

Pinterest management is happening right now, with or without you. Businesses are hiring, the money is there, and the demand isn't slowing down. You've got the roadmap - now stop overthinking and start doing. 

Pick a niche, learn the tools, and get your first client. Your Pinterest management career starts the moment you decide to take action.

Launch Your Pinterest Management Career with Confidence in 2025

Pinterest management has evolved into a lucrative, in-demand career that combines creativity, strategy, and measurable results.

Successful Pinterest Managers need three core competencies: strategic thinking (SEO, analytics, algorithm expertise), professional execution (high-converting designs and data-driven optimisation), and business acumen (client communication and results reporting).

Tools like PinMaker can enhance your capabilities by generating optimised pins quickly, maximising reach through data-backed strategies, and providing performance tracking to demonstrate client value.

With the right skills and professional tools, you can secure clients faster, deliver superior results with streamlined processes, and build a scalable business.

Ready to transform your Pinterest expertise into a growing career? Exploring PinMaker to equip yourself with the capabilities that industry leaders use to maintain their competitive edge.

FAQs

1. Do I need formal education or certifications to become a Pinterest Manager?

No formal degree or certification is required. However, taking specialised Pinterest marketing courses from reputable providers like Simple Pin Media Collective or Pinning Perfect can significantly accelerate your learning and credibility with clients.

2. How long does it take to become a successful Pinterest Manager?

With dedicated effort, you can start landing clients within 3-6 months. Building expertise with your own account, completing courses, and creating a portfolio typically takes 2-4 months. Full proficiency and higher-paying clients usually come after 6-12 months of consistent practice.